Empowering through Science: How Armamar is Building Bridges to Science in Rural Communities

In Armamar, a village nestled among the hills of Portugal’s Douro Valley, science is becoming more than a theoretical image or a school subject confined to traditional classrooms; it is evolving into a movement that connects and empowers communities. Following the success of the first European Researchers’ Night in Rural Settings (RERN) in Armamar in 2023, local enthusiasm has transformed this event from an experimental gathering into an eagerly anticipated tradition. On September 27th, 2024, RERN-Armamar returned in a second edition with an expanded ambition and a deep-rooted purpose that extends beyond the mere celebration of science. The aim is to bring science—and scientists—into the heart of rural communities, establishing it as a driving force for local development.

Telling the story of RERN-Armamar 2024 also means highlighting what happened after the first edition in 2023. In this sense, a significant result of the first edition was the creation of Arma-Sci, a non-profit association committed to democratizing access to science and fostering public engagement with science in Portuguese rural areas. This organization not only reinforced the importance and commitment of the local and national institutional partnerships, instrumental in co-organising and supporting this format of events, including RERN-Armamar — such as the Armamar School Cluster (Agrupamento de Escolas Gomes Teixeira) and the Municipality of Armamar, alongside Portuguese universities, research centers and, in the case of this second RERN edition, the SCIGLO – ‘Science for Global Challenges’ consortium — but also facilitated new and  impactful achievements. One notable outcome was its role as non-academic host for a funded PhD proposal focused on science education in Armamar, to be developed by a young researcher who is part of the RERN-Amamar organizing team. In addition, Arma-Sci secured financial support from the Portuguese Institute for Sports and Youth (IPDJ), which allowed five local youths to actively participate in the organization of the RERN-Armamar 2024, highlighting its commitment to fostering local engagement. For many of these students, RERN-Armamar represents an opportunity for growth, learning, and the strengthening of a science-driven community prepared to embrace inclusive and locally inspired solutions. Another standout achievement was the publication of a collaborative book documenting the impact of the first edition of RERN-Armamar. The publication features 62 narratives from researchers, organization members, teachers and community members, capturing the transformative journey that commenced last year in Armamar. The book is available for free download (Branquinho et al., 2024) and invites contributors worldwide to assist with its translation into multiple languages, thereby reinforcing a shared vision of ARMA-Sci for making science more accessible. Moreover, the book created a sense of community pride, purpose and belonging, inspiring the local community of Armamar to pursue the vision of Armamar as a region driven by science.

Building from this growing motivation, this year’s event did not merely echo the success of the previous one; it set a new milestone. Expanded into two distinct events, the number of participants reached 465 —an impressive 125.6% increase over last year—while the number of researchers increased by 104%, with 53 scientists representing over 20 national and international institutions, including universities, polytechnics, non-governmental organizations, and companies. This also represents a 42.8% increase in institutional collaboration. These achievements reflect the growing commitment of local and national partners and the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the event. 

On September 21st, Armamar hosted the first RERN-Armamar 2024 event, its inaugural astronomy-themed evening, the “Ignite IAstro,” which attracted 152 local community members. Guided by 10 researchers from the University of Porto’s Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, the event featured 8 engaging flash talks and telescope-aided stargazing. The impact was overwhelmingly positive, with most participants expressing an increased interest in learning more about astronomy (94.8%), attending additional astronomy events in Armamar (96.2%), reading books or watching documentaries on astronomy (88.5%), discussing astronomy with family and friends (73.1%), and visiting a planetarium (85.9%).

The second and main event, held on September 27th, broadened its scope and welcomed 313 participants. A total of 43 researchers led activities across diverse fields, including artificial intelligence, microbiology, public health, sustainable chemistry, climate change, tourism, education, gender studies, science history, and the arts. The program offered an engaging fishbowl discussion and 21 interactive science stations, supplemented by online video pitches, accessible on the Arma-Sci YouTube channel. The theme, “Science for Global Challenges,” encouraged researchers to collaborate with local communities, addressing tangible, community-specific issues and underscoring science’s practical relevance and potential for boosting sustainable regional development. The event’s success was evident: 89.8% of participants expressed a heightened interest in learning more about science, 86.2% gained awareness of the many local scientists in Armamar, 88.6% recognized science’s potential to solve local challenges, and 91.6% felt empowered to collaborate with scientists as active citizens. For a closer examination of this event, a brief documentary capturing the highlights of the RERN-Armamar second edition is available here.

RERN-Armamar is facilitating the transformation of Armamar into a hub where science is not only accessible but co-constructed. Young residents are assuming roles as changemakers, conducting research focusing on the sustainable development of their region, gaining practical experience, benefiting from mentoring networks and building a community that is rooted in inclusivity and in progress.

As RERN-Armamar’s second edition concluded, the message was clear: Science knows no boundaries, and neither does the strength of a community’s collective drive to learn, evolve, and innovate. More than just an occasion of discovery, this event is a testament to Armamar’s journey towards the democratization of science, the generation of new opportunities, and the bridging of generations through science. The unwavering dedication of local organizers, researchers, partners, and community members has been enabling RERN-Armamar to set a vision for the future in which science is accessible to all and inspires rural communities to embrace science as a catalyst for change and a foundation for sustainable local development in rural communities.

Reference:

Branquinho, R. et al. (2024). Noite Europeia dos Investigadores em Armamar – Palco da Ciência em Ambientes Rurais. UA Editora – Aveiro University. https://doi.org/10.48528/vh3d-zx88.

Authors:

Raquel Branquinho is a researcher at the University of Porto (FLUP), Portugal. She is also a co-founder and the president of the non-governmental organization ARMA-Sci, as well as a member of the board of GOMA.  In the RERN-Armamar 2024 initiative, she assumed the role of president of the coordination committee.

Inês Duarte is a PhD student at the Center for Research in Didactics and Technology at the University of Aveiro, Portugal and board member of the non-governmental organization ARMA-Sci. In the RERN-Armamar 2024 initiative, she served as a member of the organization board.

Sofia Friães is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alcalá (UAH) in Madrid and a board member of the non-governmental organization ARMA-Sci. She served as a member of the organization board for the RERN-Armamar 2024 initiative.

Susana Ambrósio is a researcher at the Center for Research in Didactics and Technology at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. She served on the RERN-Armamar 2024 as a member of the organization board.

Xana Sá Pinto is a researcher at the Center for Research in Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education at the Department of Education and Psychology at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. She is also the co-founder and president of the EvoKE network.In the RERN-Armamar 2024 initiative, she served as a member of the coordination board and also participated as researcher in the events programme.